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DU Proposes Distribution of Assistive Technology for Visually Impaired Students at ARSD

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Delhi University plans to distribute updated Jyoti AI VIsion Glasses and Saarthi Smart Canes to visually impaired students at ARSD College, with applications open until November 5, 2026.

 

Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma (ARSD) College has invited visually impaired students to register for an initiative to receive the updated and advanced version of Jyoti AI Vision Glasses and Saarthi Smart Canes, according to a college notice dated October 23.

Issued by the college principal Prof. Gyantosh Kumar Jha, the notice refers to an email dated October 22, 2026, received from the Office of the Standing Counsel for Disability (OSD), Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC), University of Delhi.

It states that visually impaired students enrolled in the first, second, third or fourth year of any course can express their interest in obtaining the equipment by filling a Google Form. Interested students must submit the application form by November 5, 2026. The college has advised eligible students to complete the process within the given deadline. However, the college notice does not specify the total number of devices available, the distribution date, or the procedure for selecting beneficiaries.

The initiative is being undertaken by the University of Delhi’s Equal Opportunity Cell, which works to improve accessibility for students with disabilities through accessible learning materials, infrastructure, and assistive technology. Such technologies can help people with visual impairments navigate their surroundings and access information. However, the notice does not detail the specific features of the devices being offered.

The proposed distribution builds on Delhi University’s broader efforts to promote accessibility through assistive technology. The Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) has previously documented a distribution initiative involving Jyoti AI Smart Glasses and Saarthi Smart Canes, organised on April 2, 2025, in collaboration with the Centre for Disability Studies, Rotary Club of Ghaziabad Smart City and Ferolite Jointings Ltd.

 

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Image Source- Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, University of Delhi

 

Aarushi Chaubey
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DU’s Equal Opportunity Cell takes a step ahead in enabling the differently abled

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Delhi University’s Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) runs three short-term courses for differently abled students, primarily for the students of the University apart from giving fee waivers for students from marginalised sections.

The University has received approximately 1700 applications for merit-based undergraduate courses by students with physical, intellectual, or behavioural disabilities. The University provides a reservation of upto 5% in admissions and 4% in employment for them as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.

The EOC strives to make the lives of these students hassle-free by providing short term courses with a duration of 3-6 months on Sign Language Interpretation, Communicative English, and Information and Computer Technology. The courses take place at the DU-NTPC Centre at the Faculty of Arts. Stories from students’ experiences at DU bear testimony to the work done by the EOC in this direction. “We are not treated as students with special needs. Rather, we are made independent. Sometimes I forget that I am blind because I can handle everything just like any other person,” says Vijay Tiwari, a student with disability pursuing his Masters degree from the University.

As a step towards recognising the need for strict legislative policies, accessible support technology, and skills development in uplifting the differently abled, the University has started providing smartphones and smart canes to visually impaired students through the government of India’s Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP) scheme. The students have also been provided with laptops installed with softwares that would enable them to record lectures and study them in PDF format later.

 

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat

Priyal Mahtta
[email protected]

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DU Equal Opportunity Cell takes students with disabilities to London and Edinburgh

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Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC), University Of Delhi plumped for Students with disabilities for an educational expedition to UK, to King’s College, London, and the University Of Edinburgh, Scotland. Professor Dinesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, Delhi University and Mr. Rob Lynes, Country Director India joined forces to bring the visit to fruition.

EOC had send letters to all the colleges and the EOC in charges of the colleges contacted the first and second semester students with disability. Out of about 100 entries send by the colleges of Delhi University to the University EOC, 22 were short listed. Two student volunteers of Delhi University and 6 faculty members were identified by EOC for the Education Excursion of Excellence for students with disability. Students had the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge about unexampled and latest technologies in the field of disability rehabilitation. Also, the visit widened their noetic purview through interaction with other students with disabilities, teachers and professionals abroad.

University officials and helpers accompanied the students. The leader of the deputation was Shri Z.V.S Prasad, and Dr. Bipin Tiwary was the coordinator. The programme catered plentiful opportunity for the groups to establish contacts and exchange ideas, bring knowledge and circularize shared experiences, thereby paving the way to joint programmes and joint research in the future.

The journey initiated at Indira Gandhi Airport. This educational Excursion was the first of its kind for students with disability which was supported by the key ministries in India Staff from the Equal Opportunity Cell of Delhi University and British Council are a part of the group.

The student’s keenness to get to an international University and interact, learn and expand their horizons was very evident. Students could apparently notice some amount of transition in the cultural variation on the very first day. The day concluded with discussion, interaction and reflection regarding the experiences. Such a voyage is must for successful culmination and explicating a holistic framework for persons with disabilities is dished out by journey of this sort.

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Campus Central

Foreign Trip for 100 Disabled Students

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DU Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Dinesh Singh recently announced a foreign trip for a 100 disabled students. This was done on the closing ceremony of Badhte Kadam, a campaign to raise awareness about disability. In addition to this, it was announced that all disabled students studying in DU would receive laptops by the end of December.

With regard to the recently announced foreign trip, officials feel that it would enable students to observe the facilities available in foreign universities and then enable them to give suggestions for development of infrastructure in DU itself.

The details are being worked out by Mr. Bipin Towari, officer on special duty of Equal Opportunity Cell and will be revealed soon.

In the recent past, many other reforms had also been announced by DU, with regard to differently – abled students. These include exemption of tuition and hostel fee, reduction in mess charges and an increase in number of seats in university hostels. DU had also asked Delhi Metro Rail Corportion to provide these students free metro cards with centralized recharging.

DU also plans to keep a tight reign over all colleges so as to ensure that rules are being followed, which were being violated by a few colleges. DU students with disabilities had also visited the Wagah border and stayed at Army camps as part of Gyananodyaya, an educational train journey, in October.

These decisions have been hailed as steps in the right direction, in order to promote unity and harmony in the University and thus allow for more a more inclusive environment.

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